The Congress party has criticised the government's recent notification regarding UPI transactions, alleging it paves the way for users to be charged fees, particularly for transactions above Rs 2,000. The party claims the government lacks transparency and questions if the move is to benefit American firms. The government, however, states that charges are necessary for the system's sustainability and infrastructure upgrades, with the Finance Minister clarifying that Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) applies to merchants, not customers.
The Sports Authority of India's National Centre of Excellence in Guwahati is hosting the Nepal boxing team for a high-performance training camp. This camp, running until September 15, provides Nepalese athletes access to India's elite sporting facilities and coaching ahead of the Asian Games, fostering stronger ties between the two nations.
US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) said the United States could "hit" Iran's heavily fortified underground nuclear site known as Pickaxe Mountain "very soon", days after Washington targeted Iranian military targets.
For a child who is six years old, one hour is the limit, says rediffGURU Dr Deepa Suvarna.
A senior coach from India's shooting contingent for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games has voiced disappointment over the logistical arrangements, particularly the long travel times to the training venue.
Two suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists have been killed in an ongoing joint operation by the Army, police, and CRPF in a remote forest area of Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district.
Ahead of Ganeshotsav, which commences on September 14, Rediff's Divya Nair visits a workshop in Mumbai where young girls, most of them first-timers, are using their brushes to bring Lord Ganesha to life.
'Regulations give a particular minimum amount of shares to be given in the OFS or IPO -- without which one cannot do the IPO.' 'We got that number on the day of filing of updated DRHP -- sufficient for us to go live with the IPO.'
HCL Group, a USD 14.8 billion conglomerate, has announced a new partnership with the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI). This collaboration aims to leverage technology and innovation to strengthen India's professional golf ecosystem, broaden the sport's reach, and enhance experiences for players, fans, and partners.
Joe Root's unbeaten 62 guided England to a dominant eight-wicket victory in the third Test against Pakistan, securing a 3-0 series whitewash despite early batting jitters. This marks England's first series win in 19 months.
The Indian government has challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's criticism of levying fees on UPI payments above Rs 2,000 to merchants. The government highlighted that a parliamentary standing committee, which included Congress MPs, had previously backed a tiered Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework for UPI. This move aims to ensure the financial sustainability of the UPI ecosystem and reduce its dependence on government subsidies, a concern raised by the committee due to the significant funding gap between allocations and operational costs.
A woman biker was hit by a speeding car on Golf Course Road in Gurugram, an incident captured on video and shared widely on social media. The accused driver, Kalyan Bainsla, admitted fault for the collision but claimed he fled fearing an attack from a group of bikers. Gurugram Police have taken suo motu cognizance, registered a case, and formed teams to apprehend the driver, while the victim plans to file a formal complaint.
India's in-form pacer Mukesh Kumar has signed with Nottinghamshire to play the final two matches of the 2026 English County Championship season. This marks his first domestic stint outside Bengal, offering him a chance to test his skills in new conditions after a successful Duleep Trophy campaign.
India's exports saw a significant increase of 26.12 per cent to USD 43.81 billion in August, leading to a narrowed trade deficit of USD 26.86 billion, driven by strong demand from key global markets and diverse sectors.
Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus has identified key areas for improvement in the team's white-ball game following their T20I series loss to India. He stressed the need for better quality pitches at home to develop players and called for a significant increase in the team's strike rate and a reduction in dot balls, especially during the Powerplay.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) turned net sellers in the first week of September, withdrawing Rs 7,443 crore from Indian equities, driven by rising crude oil prices, increasing US bond yields, and a strong dollar.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has called on her team to maintain simplicity and trust their inherent strengths as they prepare to face Sri Lanka in the Women's Asia Cup final, aiming to avenge their previous defeat.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange has proceeded towards Mumbai despite police denying permission for his protest at Azad Maidan. Jarange, who has been on a hunger strike for 17 days demanding OBC quota for Marathas, is travelling with a small group amid tight security, citing a Bombay High Court ruling that supports democratic agitation. He also alleged a conspiracy to kill him.
The Finance Ministry has clarified that the decision to impose a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 was made independently, refuting claims of foreign influence. The ministry stated the policy aims to build a self-sustaining digital payments ecosystem, with MDR funding infrastructure and supporting small merchants.
'If crude remains above $100 per barrel, with restricted retail-price increases, OMCs could face negative petrol and diesel marketing margins, higher LPG under-recoveries, higher crude-landing, freight and insurance costs, working capital and debt accumulation and inventory losses if crude subsequently corrects sharply.'
The Indian rupee experienced its sharpest single-day decline in eight weeks, settling at 94.83 per dollar, primarily due to escalating crude oil prices and persistent risk-off sentiment driven by heightened geopolitical tensions and limited foreign inflows.
A Kishore Kumar song, a birthday cake, a prince's break from protocol to thank his driver, a Persian painting on the ceiling of the presidential residence -- the BRICS Summit had many memorable moments.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged BRICS nations to expand trade in national currencies and build an inclusive global economic framework. He criticised "unilateral sanctions" by Western powers, stating they make emerging economies vulnerable and impact global food security. Pezeshkian emphasised BRICS' role in creating a balanced world order and highlighted Iran's geopolitical and energy capacities for cooperation.
Indian tennis player Yuki Bhambri is a doubtful starter for the upcoming Davis Cup tie against Korea in Seoul due to a right-leg strain suffered during practice, though he has assured his participation in the Asian Games is not threatened.
The Indian women's cricket team declined to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council chairman Mohsin Naqvi, a decision confirmed by BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla as a 'collective' stance. This follows a precedent set by the men's team after a terror attack, with the BCCI having communicated its position to the ACC in advance.
Indian wrestler Nisha Dahia has transformed her mindset, moving past repeated injury setbacks and frustrations to focus on her performance at the Asian Games. After years of questioning her fate, she now embraces a mature outlook, concentrating on hard work and accepting outcomes. Her training with Japanese coach Kosei Akaishi has also enhanced her technical skills, particularly in ground wrestling, making her a more complete athlete as she aims for a major medal.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty experienced significant declines in early trade, driven by soaring crude oil prices amidst escalating tensions in West Asia, coupled with weak global market trends and foreign fund outflows.
Pakistan's government is exploring measures, including potential smart lockdowns and austerity, to reduce petroleum consumption. This comes after recent fuel price hikes driven by rising global oil prices and West Asia tensions, which have also raised concerns about oil supply disruptions. The government is also implementing a fuel relief scheme and faces public pressure over the price increases.
Legendary Indian hockey player Harbinder Singh reminisces about India's historic first Asian Games gold medal in 1966, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan. He shares insights into the team's motivation, the challenging final match played with 10 men, and the evolution of hockey over the decades, including concerns about declining domestic spectator interest and India's prospects for future Asian Games.
India-born Manjit Singh Bedi has been placed on the FBI's most wanted fraudsters list for allegedly orchestrating a significant US government benefits fraud scheme and subsequently fleeing to India.
American tennis star Taylor Fritz was unexpectedly defeated by Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo in a five-set thriller during the third round of the U.S. Open, marking Fritz's earliest exit from his home major in four years. Cerundolo's improved play in the latter sets secured his first-ever spot in the U.S. Open fourth round.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced new features for India's digital payment ecosystem, including UPI tap-to-pay for PIN-less transactions up to 5,000 and multi-currency capabilities for forex on Bharat Connect, supporting Euro, British Pound, and other major currencies.
During the Asia Cup final on Sunday, the cameras panned to the guest box at the Dubai international stadium and showed BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia in conversation with Asian Cricket Council Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
This week's OTT releases offer a diverse selection, from Suriya's family drama Vishwanath & Sons and Nikkhil Advani's historical series The Revolutionaries to thrillers like Ghamasaan and international mysteries.
United States coach Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to extend his contract, leading the men's national team through the 2030 World Cup, following their last-16 finish at this year's finals.
World-record holder Alison dos Santos secured victory in the men's 400m hurdles, while Djamel Sedjati surprisingly won the men's 800m on the final day of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship. Other winners included Jasmine Jones (women's 400m hurdles), Rumesh Pathirage (men's javelin), and Likina Amebaw (women's 5,000m) at the event in Budapest, which featured a record $10 million prize pot.
A report by Scholars at Risk, 'Free to Think 2026', states that academic freedom in India is "severely restricted" due to increasing government influence over higher education, university governance, and curbs on student expression. India is listed among six countries in this category, with its Academic Freedom Index score sharply declining. The report cites instances of faculty dismissals, event cancellations, and pressure on student protests, highlighting the alleged use of the UGC as a vehicle for state influence.
Daniil Medvedev defeated Arthur Rinderknech 6-4 6-4 6-4 to reach the fourth round of the US Open. The former champion overcame an early break in the first set to secure a dominant victory, extending his strong form and avenging a previous loss to Rinderknech. He now looks to make a deep run in the tournament.
India's Davis Cup team is set for a high-stakes Qualifier Round 2 clash against South Korea in Seoul, with players like Dhakshineswar Suresh and Sumit Nagal aiming to secure a historic Final 8 berth under the current format.
Government sources state that Meta, due to its algorithmic amplification of content, can no longer be considered a "simple intermediary" but rather a "service provider," implying greater responsibility and potential loss of legal immunity. This shift comes as Meta commits to directly reporting child abuse content to Indian law enforcement, amidst increasing government scrutiny over harmful online content and algorithmic bias.
